The Covariant Technique for Calculation of One Loop Effective Action

Jan, 1990
43 pages
Published in:
  • Nucl.Phys.B 355 (1991) 712-754,
  • Nucl.Phys.B 509 (1998) 557-558 (erratum)
  • Published: 1991
Report number:
  • KA-THEP-2-1990

Citations per year

1990199920082017202502468101214
Abstract: (Elsevier)
We develop a manifestly covariant technique for a heat kernel calculation in the presence of arbitrary background fields in a curved space. The four lowest-order coefficients of the Schwinger-De Witt asymptotic expansion are explicitly computed. We also calculate the heat kernel asymptotic expansion up to terms of third order in the rapidly varying background fields (curvatures). This approximate series is summed and covariant nonlocal expressions for the heat kernel. ζ-function and one-loop effective action are obtained. Other related problems are discussed.
  • effective action
  • background field
  • field theory: Euclidean
  • perturbation theory: higher-order
  • regularization: heat kernel
  • n-point function
  • invariance: Lorentz
  • bibliography